I’ve done one before and it changed my life, it was a month long painting challenge. I had never painted before but felt brave after writing my book. I learned so much during the month, surprised and then stunned myself at what I could do and I’m painting ever since.

Before 2015 is over I intend to have the marrow out of it.

I am answering every call of my spirit these days.

It’s only July and twenty people have said yes so far, might you be next? Read on and see…

What is it? What’s Involved?

A daily creative challenge this October. The minimum requirement for taking part is TWO daily actions. The first is daily journaling, morning or night, as little or much as you like but privately, for your eyes only. PLUSone additional creative activity every day that you will post, at least in the private group and if you’re open to it, on the blog fb page too.

Note: If you choose writing there will be further guidelines for sharing, e.g. if you are writing a book it will be enough to share process, daily word count etc. If you choose personal essays/poems/short stories/blog posts you can share part or all if you wish. If you wish to focus solely on journaling you can share process, thoughts, word count etc. We can discuss all this again later…

Painting by Marguerite Pearson

You can choose any creative activity. Focus on just one or a selection, photography, painting and writing, it’s up to you!

From now on I’ll be posting my top tips and ideas to steal and all of these will be posted together in one easy to browse new section here on the blog.

The aim of the month is twofold depending what stage you are at. It will either unblock you and get you creating out of the darkor increase and improve your output, motivate and inspire… It will make you braver, more creative, a better artist, more confident. It will enrich your life…

Most of all you will surprise yourself as to what you are capable of.

I’ll be setting up a private group where we can chat, share work, ask questions, share support.

To mark this new venture I will be offering a limited number of free one to one personal coaching/brainstorming sessions…

The focus of these will be what YOU want from the month e.g start or build a blog, write that novel, paint, set up a new or shake up an existing creative business and life. Past clients, colleagues and friends will attest to how this time with me will inspire, motivate and support you on your path.

“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the ‘creative bug’ is just a wee voice telling you, ‘I’d like my crayons back, please.”

– Hugh McLeod, ‘Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity’

Painting by Edouard Vuillard

Who is it for?Here’s a test..If you’ve never written a word or held a paintbrush but would like to, it’s for you. If you’ve dabbled, perhaps as a child and would like to dabble once more, it’s for you.

If you already paint/write/photograph/craft but would like a new challenge/inspiration/change/to increase output in the dark side of the year, it’s for you.

In other words it’s for anyone who feels the call to creative work no matter what level, age, ability or stage.

I don’t know if I’m ready. Good, that’s the best possible starting point. I know for a fact, from experience, that we’re as ready as we need to or will ever be. Start before you are ready is the best guideline. Learn like a child, learn by doing. Do you have the call? Do you want this? That is the only question.

What will make it life changing? Don’t miss a day and let the life change come to you.

I want to do it but fear I won’t have time. That’s just not true. Don’t set yourself up with an out before you start.

‘Do or do not, there is no try.’- Yoda

I’m not good enough… This challenge is about creating, unblocking, increasing output, showing up and doing the work. If anything turns out to be good that will be a bonus. We all want to be good but we must decide it doesn’t have to be good this October, just done! Good is for later.

If we were aiming for excellence, I’d have to make it a five year challenge.

I’m a better writer than I was three years ago, not as good as I’ll be three years from now, or, by the end of October.

What will You need? Notebooks, art supplies, the will, the gumption, the decision…

‘This now is it. This. Your deepest need and desire is satisfied by the moments energy here in your hand.’ – Rumi

Sign Me Up?

Leave a comment on this post with your name, location on earth and any questions.

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And that’s it! Start dreaming and plotting and planning. It is going to be brilliant!!!

Please share this post widely with friends who may be interested, thank you!

‘Jane Gilheaney Barry, One Time PR & Creative Director,

Now Writer, Blogger, Learner Painter, Inspirer…’

“Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You cannot get there by bus, only by hard work, risking and by not quite knowing what you are doing. What you will discover will be wonderful: Yourself.” – Alan Alda

What a perfect match of creative enthusiasm and determined willfulness you and this path you carve for yourself are Jane. I too believe I’m here to create till my head explodes and inspire others while I do so. I’m in. I usually do 31 days of posts for October and I shall borrow your challenge for the theme and the impetus. Thank you Jane. You did have a card up your sleeve.

Ok, Jane. It’s finally time to slink out of the shadows and join in! Probably writing, but who knows? I’ve got a hankering to do something with cloth- I adore crazy quilts. Maybe other lurkers will join me, who knows?

How’re you feeling now? Seems like the energy’s back! take care,
Marian xx

I’m in! I need a serious push & this sounds like it could be it! I’m not sure yet what I’ll do – maybe painting or a new blog….will think on. Also please put me in the hat for the coaching sessions – would love your advice on a few things 😉

I’m not sure what I’ll do yet myself 🙂 Great to have you on board and I have you in the hat now too. I am really looking forward to these sessions, I know they’ll be just as inspiring for me. Thanks Aine

I live in the shadow of Mt Rainier just beyond the forests by the railroad tracks in a small apartment where the smells of The Green River bring me dreams of Nature that alternately thrill and terrify me. When I read your post, my small voice chimed in, “me, too!”

Hi I’m from the Philippines, I conduct painting class for adults, but I need to be inspired more. My mom who is almost 90 is passing on to me and my two sisters this:” never let a day pass without turning in something good with your hands”.
Count me in!

Great Sharon, welcome aboard. Keep an eye on the blog here for updates and posts dedicated to the bootcamp in the weeks and months ahead. I’ll also add your name to the hat for the one to one sessions x

I can’t wait to participate in this wonderful creativity challenge. Thank you for the invitation. You have a wonderful blog that inspires me to maybe get back into blogging myself — and do a hundred other adventurous things. My daughter and I long to visit Ireland someday.

Hi Jane! Love your blog and your idea of an October Creativity Bootcamp. It’s just what I need and has come at a great time…I’ll hopefully have myself organised by then…I’ve been busy carving out a creative space for myself in an old mobile home down the field that I’ve cleared and renovated and filled with my art stuff and now hopefully a journalling corner!

Thanks Karen, that sounds absolutely wonderful and inspiring! I am in a corner of the laundry room myself 🙂 Welcome aboard and keep an eye on the blog and fb for relevant posts and details in the coming month 🙂

May I join you? I feel like every day I don’t create art I have failed somehow and I am frustrated with the daily obstacles of parenting small children (love them though) and somehow I think you understand and I’m willing to try and try again to make this happen.

Serendipity. That’s what this is. Not 5 minutes ago I finished setting up a private fb page for my own ramblings. It is for mine own eyes. That begins half of the quest. I have plenty of other creative projects on the boil so this will help me play and focus on finding the one that provides most joy. It may well be all of them! Thank you and can’t wait.

I am currently being re-energized and expanded by the Artist’s Way. I am in a small group and the weekly check-in is powerfully helpful. So I have been writing my journal each day for two months or more, and love the time devoted to me and my creativity.
This is great, and my first task on October 1st will be to begin visual file creation of my dreams/visions. Also some writing and poetry, and some expressive playing with colours, lines and other shapes.
Thanks for this abundance of companionship and prompts.
Frankston, Melbourne, Australia. (Down south, the cooler end) <3

This is for me – I am a painter in the lovely state of Kentucky, who is reluctant to carve out time to just paint. Not sure why… but I would love to just be present to my work every day! (already signed up on the FB page.)

Greetings from Longford, Yes I want to leave the city of my comfort and go into the the wilderness of my intuition, and I have no clue what I am doing, but I sense that here might be the place to discover what my creative soul has hiding in its depths.

I can add you Cora but you’ll have to friend me on fb first unless you’re already friends with someone in the group who can add you? Find me under Jane Barry (Jane Gilheaney) same profile pic as on the blog here, with fan

About Me

Jane Gilheaney Barry is an Author, Creativity Coach, and Curator of That Curious Love of Green. A one stop inspiration space for creative living. Welcome.
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